Fourth of July Weekend

Hello, come on in and lets drink a cup of my Death Wish coffee and chat. There are those 4th of July cookies too, that I love.lol I don't care if they leave my teeth blue or red, do you?  I love this coffee. Curt gets it for me for special occasions and I pour it out pretty sparingly but I will share with you. You can order this through Amazon, but I am too cheap to buy it myself. Anyway, I was thinking about the 4th of July and remembering some fun times. What are yours? We always had homemade ice cream and water melon growing up. (I will share something with you. I don't like watermelon) I know, my kids thought there was something wrong with me when they were growing up. Often I was at my grandparents in Ohio on the 4th. There, we would go out to the Fairgrounds for hot dogs and fireworks. I remember the man who owned the funeral home across the street, Mr Dawson and his wife, taking my friend and I out with them. He had a black Cadilac and I thought I was so special riding in that.
We used to be at the race track when my kids were growing up. We would have fire crackers and sparklers and I knew they were going to be blown to bits or the least set on fire. It never happened. Now the 4th we usually have supper and watch the Clinton fireworks out at Amanda's.  How do you spend the 4th?
 Freedom isn't free, and I am so grateful for those who have fought for ours. I have named them several times, and I will again. My Uncle Dillon, US Army. He was my Daddy's brother. My uncle JN Standifer, US Marine Corp, My brother in law Bruce Crowe, US Marine Corp, my sister in law Margaret Crowe, US Navy,(yes the one I went to NF with. She is my only sil), my son Doug Crowe, US Marine, and my niece Kate Kuster, US Army, Carol Sue's husband Wayne Wheatley, US ARMY. My cousin's son, Justin Peterson, US Marine Corp and he lost his life in Iraq. I know you have lots of loved ones who have fought for us too and still are. No, our freedom isn't free and our forefathers who fought so hard to write the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, so we could be independent, made a lot of concessions to make sure America would be an independent country. I wonder what they would think now. I shudder.
Now for some fun stuff.
I had a different 4th this year. I met my first cousin Carol Sue and her husband Wayne in Nashville , at their daughter Dayna's for the 4th. They had planned on going to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night and invited me to come go. I was elated, as you know. I LOVE country music and had not been to the Opry in years, so I have been talking about it for some time now. Anyway I drove over Friday morning and we went to the street fair in Franklin. Franklin is a beautiful little town. That evening we went to watch a concert at the Eddie Arnold Ampitheatre and to see the fireworks. What fun!!!

There was a group called "The Cadilacs" performing that I didn't know, but enjoyed. They did all kinds of music.

 This guy was in my face for a while.lol He was tied to a wagon and the wind kept blowing him over to me.lol I thought he was cute and a perfect date. He never said a word.lol finally the lady set him free.

Dayna and her friend Ben. This band saluted all the veterans and we were proud of Wayne for having served in the army. Two little girls came over and asked him if he served in "the war". We had such a good time. Our seats were so good for the fireworks, Carol Sue thought they were going to land on us!lol (of course I never once thought that)

This is goofy of me but had to prove I was there.
On Saturday night we went to the Opry. Carol Sue and I had been once as children together. Our Dads were brothers and were close. I had been several times growing up and Curtis and I were there for Patsy Cline's last performance. You all who have been following my blog, know I LOVE country music. Especially the old country, so this was a special treat to me. A couple of years ago Deb and I went to the Country Music Hall of Fame and I was mesmerized.lol Anyway, the night was as wonderful as I anticipated it to be.
Janelle Arthur a local girl was on, as well as Mel Tillis, Connie Smith, Jeannie Seeley, and Vince Gill. Even Jimmie Dickens did a song. He was very frail but I truly enjoyed seeing him. There were some new people as well, but these older entertainers just made me smile. Mel Tillis is an awesome entertainer.

Wayne, Carol Sue and me.

I had to post this because I love this picture!
I hope you have enjoyed the visit as much as I have enjoyed sharing with you. Before we left on Saturday for the Opry, Dayna and Ben served us a delicious meal of ribs, baked beans and potato salad. It was delicious. I have to say she fed us well the whole weekend. We had such a good time and the rest were so gracious to let Carol Sue and I play remember when. Some memories made us laugh and some actually made us cry, but there is nothing like family and Carol Sue and her sister Verleen are the nearest to sisters I have ever had. Thank you Dayna, Carol Sue and Wayne for allowing me to be part of this wonderful weekend. And thank YOU for coming Through My Back door where life is good.
betty
PS: I have to show you these. HAVE TO: Ready for the 4th

 Now What do you think of this? Is she not the cutest?
PSS: I will show some of Amanda's 4th pictures later
PSSS:  I want to wish my good friend Alice Loy a Happy belated birthday. Alice is one of the finest women I have ever known and I am so happy to call her friend.

Alice is on the left. That is Kathleen on the right